My 4 yr. old GSD had been plauged by sore hips or rear leg joints. At first I thought it was the dreaded H/P.

I padded the paito (concret floor) and start giving him joint medicine. Before doing this for about a week he was struggling to jump in the truck (talk about don't cha wanta turn my brown eyes blue). Now after about three weeks of padded concret floor, medication (dry pills) and a lighter diet. He is spring into the truck and will even try to take the jumps in the park.
What a brave heart? I'm gonna stop him from jumping over barriers until I can solve this and get his speed back up.

Could jumping cause this? I ask this because of my hybrid dog she doesn't show any ill effect from sleeping in the same enviroment. Of course she doesn't have as many successful jumps as he does either.

And she really slept most of the times out in the yard. The GSD when outside liked to sleep right next to the house (on the patio) so he could occassionally sniff at the patio door to catch our scent.

Am I right in thinking that H/P you continually get worse and its not reversible as these symptoms seem to be? Or is he learning to coupe with the pain???

Could jumping cause this? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Don : i would want to know what ,and if any hip problems your dog might have prior to jumping . Is this dogs hips sounds, and what meds are you giving . The jumping can be another factor to the dogs discomfort. I would not want to jump a dog that is not sound in the first place .I like to rub the dogs legs done with a good horse liniment,swimming is a good toner and work out ,not fast play but gentle swimming . Good luck Peter

Yes, in a manner of speaking jumping could cause the problem or more likely could contribute to the whatever the real problem is. If the dog does have problems, an injury or HD, resting can bring about the change for the better you have seen. . .and the joint/injury/whatever problems could still be present.

Go to the vet and get the x-rays done! You won't know till you have the proof sitting in front of you.

After the X-ray result showed the skelton structural hips, front & rear elbows, not perfect but sound.

Another showed he tested positive for Lyme diease, we were given 4 weeks doseage anti-biotics/Tetracycline and pain reliever/anti-flamantory medication Rimadyl. And Oxymorphone was suggested in a more generic alternative. If I wanted to continue the pain pills.

You hear/read about Lyme diease and its symptoms, of stiff joints is one. My preventive measures usually have been enough. But this year even with the vaccinations, tick and flea repellant (I've use for 4 yrs), though we are sometime deep in the woods. I wash them every two weeks and brush them out 3 times a week. I have only found 1 tick on each of them this year. My luck of the draw, one bullet in the cyclinder and I get hit. It wasn't enough?

He was showing signs of recovering while on the anti-flamantorys given before, this final diagnosis. I have a question, should I continue to give the pain reliever? Mat really has not been showing signs of pain, Yipping or sheriking when he moves or run. Are there other sign that a dogs in pain. I can touch all over his rear end, wash his legs and tail? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

He just seems to be a little timid to run full out. He still moves like a puppy at feeding time and when he sees the tug or ball. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I should have known it was something like that usually HD or ED shows sign of being, early in a puppies life. I thought it was an injury because it seem to happen so suddenly. Old day he's running, standing and jumping. Then the next day he's limping and its hard to get in the cargo area of the jeep.

He now better not back to his old self, bu his movemnet is that of a stronger dog, then he was when I noticed he was limping.

I hope we can get back to a full recovering, if not a partial recovering that can be maintained, would work.

Don, I'm sorry. I hope this is something that can be managed.

Hi Guys

After treatment he seems to be getting better, he can jump in the Jeep with a 3 feet running start, he seems to walk with the same stride that he use to, (when I first notice him limping both rear legs moved together as if hobbled) now its a smooth one two trout of the GSD. But he still will not run full out, could it be memory of how it hurt when he was stiff or is he living with pain and adjusting to it.

He doesn't bounce up from a down like he use to and he rarely stands on his rear legs. He will fetch and find in a swift motion I haven't done any bite work since this has happen, but if I pickup or throw the dummy or the tugg his head and tail goes into alert and I have to call his off the fetch or these items.

How long does it take for a full recovery or to know he won't be 100% again. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I'm curious to know how he tested positive for Lyme? If he was vaccinated for it, then of course it will show up in blood tests. What made the vet think it was Lyme?

Lisa

They did a bevy of different test blood was drawn and joints were manipulated, along with X-Rays.
After reviewing the results he came to the conclusion that it was Lyme deiase. Its pretty promonate because of the vast amount of wooded area here. His past experince and the blood test results.

I even heard him say that all dogs have a certain amount of HD some more cricial then others. Just like some people joints are made different. My right leg is slightly longer then my left. :rolleyes: <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Ugh, did it again...didn't realize this thread started 6 yrs ago

Yikes, seriously check for Lyme disease! My old chow mix had Lyme and I and the vets thought it was just arthritis (she was lame in the rear only), years later she went into renal failure from the Lyme and it was too late.

Logan got exposed to it (Lyme is rampant here), I found a tick and he got the bullseye rash after it was removed. I am treating him homeopathicly with Ledum 1M and he is doing very well, no symptoms.